10 Best Scholarships for Film Schools: Lights, Camera, Funds!

The spotlight is on your filmmaking dreams – but what about your budget? Film schools can be an exciting but expensive adventure for many students but don’t let finances be the villain in your story! The best scholarships for film schools can turn your filmmaking dreams into reality – funding everything from tuition to production costs. Whether you’re an aspiring screenwriter, cinematographer, or director, there’s a scholarship just for you! We will take you through the best scholarships for film schools in this guide. So keep reading!  

10 Best Scholarships for Film Schools

Filmmaking is an exciting career choice, with top film institutions often carrying hefty price tags. Luckily, various film schools with scholarships, ranging from merit-based awards to need-based grants, can fund your creative education. Let’s dive into the diverse scholarships for film schools.  

1. King Family Foundation Scholarship

Offered By: Charles & Lucille King Family Foundation
Award Amount: $3,500
Deadline: 15 April 2025

First up on our list of the best scholarships for film schools is the King Family Foundation Scholarship, which offers funding to emerging filmmakers. Students who demonstrate exceptional creative vision in storytelling have a high chance of getting this scholarship. One of the best film production scholarships, it awards $3,500 per academic year to juniors and seniors. It is offred to students majoring in television and film at an accredited four-year US college or university. To qualify for an automatic renewal of this one of the best scholarships for film majors, students will need to maintain a grade point average of ‘B’ or higher and submit an official transcript to the foundation by June 30th. 

To Be Eligible:

• Be a full-time film or television major at an accredited 4-year US college or university.

2. Barbara Caras Memorial Scholarship   

Offered By: Sarasota Film Society
Award Amount: $2,000
Deadline: 31 July 2025

Honoring the legacy of one of Hollywood’s pioneering female producers, this scholarship supports students with a strong interest in media and film production. To get this scholarship, the applicant must be a resident of Sarasota or Manatee County in Florida. Students must also be pursuing a program related to Film, Computer Animation, Creative Writing, Motion Design, or Illustration. One must also submit at least one sample of their work showcasing their creativity and skills. Don’t forget to exhibit a strong academic record, financial need, and a passion for using film as a medium for storytelling and social change. 

To Be Eligible:

• Be a resident of Sarasota or Manatee County in Florida.
• Maintain a GPA of 2.75.
• Completed at least one full year in an accredited Florida college.

3. Gordon Hay Scholarship Fund

Offered By: Blumenthal Arts & Gordon Hay Scholarship Committee
Award Amount: $10,000
Deadline: 10 March 2025 

Next on our list of the best scholarships for film studies is the Gordon Hay Scholarship Fund, administered by the Education Department of Blumenthal Arts. The committee selects two exceptional students to receive a one-time award of up to $10,000 each year. It aims to support special learning opportunities related to non-performance careers in theater, such as professional conferences, seminars, workshops, unpaid internships, professional performances, or technology-related needs. Applicants must provide a formal request for approval to access funds from their award account. One needs to utilize the full amount within their first year of college or withdraw periodically over a four-year undergraduate program. Do note that if any funds go unused after graduation, they will be forfeited.

To Be Eligible:

• Be a current high school senior, college freshman, or college sophomore.

4. Jack G. Shaheen Media Scholarship              

Offered By: American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) 
Award Amount: $2,500
Deadline: 12 April 2025 

One of the best scholarships for film schools, this award is breaking cultural barriers through media representation. Undergraduate juniors and seniors and graduate students majoring in journalism, radio, television, and/or film can apply for this scholarship. The Jack G. Shaheen Media Scholarship empowers voices that have been historically underrepresented in mainstream media. This scholarship is named after Dr. Shaheen, an internationally recognized author and media critic. To apply, one must submit a one-page statement outlining their qualifications for the scholarship, career goals, and the impact of Jack Shaheen’s work on their aspirations. One also needs to provide a declaration confirming US citizenship and Arab heritage, two original, signed recommendation letters, copies of relevant work such as articles, DVDs, or films, and official transcripts.

To Be Eligible:

• Have a minimum GPA of 3.0.
• Be a US citizen with Arab heritage.

5. LA FEMIS - Embassy of France Scholarship

Offered By: La Femis
Award Amount: €910
Deadline: 31 March 2025

A state-funded institution under the Ministry of Culture and Communication, LA FEMIS opens doors for international collaboration in filmmaking. One of the best film making scholarships, it not only covers tuition for a year at the prestigious French film school but also provides housing assistance and monthly stipends. It also offers a two-month Summer Residency Program between July and September, exclusively for an Indian student. During the scholarship period, one receives a monthly stipend of around €910, a round-trip ticket to France, tuition fee coverage, overseas medical insurance, and assistance with finding accommodation. Plus, you get a student visa fee waiver. 

To Be Eligible:

• Must have an equivalent of a baccalaureate and a minimum of 2 years of tertiary studies or its equivalent.
• Applicants must be under 27 years old for all entrance exams.
• Proficiency in the French language.

6. Lantos Activist Artist Scholarship

Offered By: Lantos Foundation for Human Rights & Justice
Award Amount: $2,500 - $5,000
Deadline: 28 February 2025

Next on our list of the best scholarships for film schools, it is dedicated to supporting students who use their art to advocate for human rights and social justice. Named after Congressman Tom Lantos, this scholarship is awarded to students whose creative works, be it through film, theater, or visual arts, bring awareness to important humanitarian issues. To apply, one must submit a portfolio demonstrating their activist-themed projects, along with an essay detailing how their art contributes to meaningful social change.  

To Be Eligible:

• Be a high school senior.
• Be a US citizen.

7. Verve Arts Scholarship

Offered By: Verve Educational Consulting
Award Amount: $650
Deadline: 1 May 2025

Passionate about independent filmmaking and experimental storytelling? Then, this is one of the best film scholarships for you. It is awarded each year to high school seniors or current undergraduate students studying an arts degree at a four-year college. It prioritizes applicants who push the boundaries of conventional filmmaking, encouraging unique perspectives and fresh narratives. Originality, artistic ambition, and a commitment to evolving the art of film are the factors judges look at while considering your application.

To Be Eligible:

• Be a high school senior or current undergraduate student.
• Be pursuing an arts degree at a four-year college or university.

8. Raymond W. Walsh Video Production Scholarship

Offered By: Metro Productions
Award Amount: $2,000
Deadline: 11 June 2025

This is one of the best film studies scholarships for students pursuing careers in video production and digital media. This scholarship for film making courses is for undergraduate students pursuing video production, content creation, video editing, audiovisual work, multimedia journalism, and documentary filmmaking at a college or university in Virginia. To apply, one needs to showcase their passion for media production and any relevant experience they may have. 

To Be Eligible:

• Be an undergraduate student at a college or university in Virginia.

9. New York Women in Film & Television Scholarship Fund

Offered By: New York Women in Film & Television (NYWIFT)
Award Amount: NA
Deadline: NA

Aiming to support the next generation of women filmmakers, editors, cinematographers, animators, and other content producers, it is one of the best scholarships for film schools. Each year, undergraduate and second-year female film students at Brooklyn College, City College of New York, Columbia University, Feirstein School of Cinema, Hunter College, New York University, and Stony Brook Manhattan Center for Creative Writing & Film receive this scholarship from NYWIFT.    

To Be Eligible:

• Be a female student.

10. Against the Grain Artistic Scholarship

Offered By: Against the Grain Productions
Award Amount: $1,000
Deadline: 31 May 2025 

One of the best scholarships for film schools, it challenges conventional filmmaking narratives by supporting Asian-American students who dare to defy stereotypes. For this scholarship, one must be pursuing a degree in performing, visual arts, journalism, and/or mass communications. Students demonstrating exceptional talent, creativity, and leadership in the arts have a high chance of getting this scholarship. In addition, one must submit an essay or artistic portfolio, a letter of recommendation, and attend a phone/in-person committee interview.  

To Be Eligible:

• Must be of at least 25% Asian and/or Pacific Islander ethnicity.
• Must be a US citizen.
• Must be either a high school senior or a college student currently enrolled full-time at an accredited US college or university.
• Have a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

Top Film Schools in the World

Studying film at a prestigious university can be a stepping stone to a remarkable career in cinema. Renowned film schools around the world have produced some of the industry’s best and most influential directors, actors, and producers. With state-of-the-art facilities, acclaimed faculty members, industry connections, and comprehensive curricula, these film schools stand as beacons of excellence in film education. You will find several good film schools in New York, the UK, and Europe. Listed below are some of the top film schools in the world:

1. University of Southern California (USC) School of Cinematic Arts
2. National Film and Television School
3. NYU Tisch School of the Arts
4. Film and Television School of the Academy of Performing Arts 
5. Australian Film Television and Radio School
6. Columbia University School of the Arts
7. Beijing Film Academy
8. London Film School
9. American Film Institute Conservatory
10. Northwestern University School of Communication

Pursuing a film career can be exciting and financially challenging, but film scholarships can ease the burden. From merit-based awards to those supporting underrepresented voices in the industry, these film scholarships open doors to invaluable learning experiences. Additionally, you can opt for amber scholarships that offer further financial aid opportunities, making it easier for you to hone your craft. So, take your time to research, apply, and seize the opportunities that can turn your filmmaking dreams into reality!